No Complaining

DEVOTION

THE LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIANS

NO COMPLAINING

Phil 2:14-18

14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life — in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

NIV

Who likes someone who complains about everything all the time? But this is more than just being a big baby about having to do something we may not want to do, or about something that is going on we do not like. This is about being unhappy with our situation and blaming others for it, thus arguing with them, wanting them to change for us. This is putting ourselves above them, thinking more highly of ourselves then we should. This is about being so self-centered, we cannot see anything other than our own wants, or not being able to see past the nose on our face. The reason we have to stop any complaining or arguing about our lot in life is so that we may become pure and blameless, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation. In other words, we are supposed to live as children of God rather than children of a depraved generation. Children are usually a reflection of their parents, not just in general appearance, but in personality or attitudes. There are always exceptions, of course, but generally, the way the parents live, so do the children. As Children of God, then we should be living as Jesus lived.  Besides, he told us that he gives us his peace, not as the world gives peace. We have studied that word before and we know it means a secure sense, confident of our salvation and content with our lot in life whatsoever that is. That simply means we have no reason to complain or argue with anyone about what we do or are required to do, or not do. The fact is we should be a beacon of light in this depraved generation, holding out the word of God to them, so they too might find the peace of Jesus. We are to shine like stars in the universe. That means although we are not to be snobs holding our nose so high we would drown in a rainstorm, we are to live differently in attitude and behavior than the rest of the world. We are not to withhold ourselves from them, as the stars do not without themselves from the universe, but rather we are to be that star, like the North Star, or like the Bright and Morning Star, Jesus, a beacon, giving a constant direction for those traveling in the lost and depraved sea of life. In addition, we should also be aware of everyone else, our brothers and sisters in the Lord and rejoicing with them because of their faith and we should be willing to be poured out as a sacrifice, which simply means we serve rather than being served. Again, this goes back to this not thinking more highly of ourselves then we should. So we live content, no complaining and arguing, instead we live being the light to the world.